Measuring-machine.



Patented Sept. I2, I899. RMER.

E. H; & E. F. PARKS & T. P. FA

MEASURING MACHINE lApplication filed Mar. 17, 1894.- Mo em l3 Shuets5he9t a,

8 INVENTORS.

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N0. 633,l02. Patented Sept. I2, I899. E'. H. &. E. F. PARKS &. T. P. FARMER.

MEASURING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 17, 1894.)

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N0. 633,l02. Patented Sept. 12, I899. E. H. 8:. E. F. PARKS &. T. P. FARMER.

MEASURING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 17, 1894.1

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N0. 633,!02. Patented Sept. l2, I899. E. H. 8. E. F. PARKS &. T. P. FARMER.

MEASURING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 17, 1894.}

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WITNESSES:

Nb. 633,!02; Patented Sept. l2, I899. E. H. a E. F. PARKS & T. P. FARMER.

MEASURING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 17, 1894.) (No Model.) B Sheets-Sheet 5,

WITNESSES:

m: NORRXS PETERS co. PHCTOALITNOH WASHINGTDN, n. c.

No. 633,102. Patented Sept. l2, I899. E. H. &. E. F. PARKS & T. P. FARMER. MEASURING MACHINE.

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4X {MM N0. 633,!02. Patented Sept. I2, I899. E. H. & E. F. PARKS & T. P. FARMER.

MEASURING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 17, 1894.,

I3 Sheets-Sheet 7 No Model.)

ATTORNEYS No. 633,102. Patented Sept. l2, I899. E. H. 8'. E. F. PARKS & T. P. FARMER.

MEASURING MACHINE.

A licmio'n fi1 ed Mar. 17, 1594.)

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No. 632.,l02. Pzitented Sept. 12, I899. E. H. & E. F. PARKS & T. P. FARMER.

MEASURING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 17, 1894.: (;N0 Modem [3 Sheets-Sheet 9 WITNESSE INVENTORS K @404 9!? @Mowfl,

No. 633,|02. Patented Sept. l2, I899. E. H. &. E. F. PARKS & T. P. FARMER.

MEASURING MACHINE.

(Appiication filed Mar. 17, 1894.)

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No. e33,|o2. Patented Sept. 12, I899. E. H. & E. F. PARKS & T. P. FARMER. MEASURING MACHINE.

(Appfication filed. Mar. 17, 1894.) (No Model.) l3 Sheets-Sheet n,

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ATTORNEY? THE Noam PEYERS co. PHOTO-LH'HQ, msnmnmn. n cy N0. 633;!02. Patented Sept. 12, I899. E. H. 8. E. F. PARKS & T. P. FARMER.

MEASURING MACHINE.

[Application filed Mar. 17, 1894.)

I3 Sheets8heet l2.

m0 Model.)

INVENTORS ATTORNEYS N0. 633,!02. Patented Sept. I2. 1899. E. H. & E. F. PARKS & T. P. FARMER.

MEASURING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 17, 1894.]

I3 Sheets-Sheet 13 (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT Oriana EDWARD ll. PARKS AND ED\VARD F. PARKS, OE PROVIDENCE, l ill'ODE ISLAND, AND THEODORE l7. EARMER, OE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MEASURING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,102, dated September 12, 1899.

Applicatibu filed March 17, 1894.

To (tZZ whom it may concern Be it known that we, EDWARD 1L PARKS and EDWARD F. PARKS, of the city of Providence, State of Rhode Island, and THEODORE P. FARMER, of the city of Boston, State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Measuring-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to measuring devices, and more particularly to that class of such devices that are provided, in addition to the actual measuring-scale, with means to indicate and record the quantity measured or to be measured thereby.

One of the objects of the present improvement is to provide a device-portable, if desiredthat may be used for the measurement of goods sold, for instance, in a retail store, whereby the measurements of anyfraction of a unit of measurement or any multiples there of or multiples and fractions maybe correctly determined and whereby they may be indieated or recorded, or both, and thereby reduce to the minimum the errors or losses that have heretofore occured in the sale of goods by measurement.

The present invention consists, essentially, of an automatic yard or other measuring instrument having means for determining the number of operations to be performed thereby or thereon, which means are returned to their idle normal positions by the act of performing the predetermined measuring operation.

The measuring instrument may include means for recording or registering the operations to be performed, and may also include an indicator by which the operations to be performed are indicated, the recording means and the indicator being returned to zero in the act of performing the measuring operations.

The instrument may obviously be arranged to measure any units or units and fractions of units of measurement, such as yards and fractions. of a yard, and to this end includes a yard stick or scale having a zero point or key and a yard thumb-piece or key, with intermediate keys representing fractions of the yard. The intermediate or fractions keys normally lie in an unexposed position, with Serial lie. 504,027. (No model.)

their top faces preferably substantially flush with the upper surface of the measuring instrnment, and each fractions-key is arranged to be independently moved into an exposed or operative position at the will of the operator, such exposed key being also arranged to return to its normal position in the act of taking the fractional measurement. \Vith the intermediate or fractions keys there may be combined a fractions bar, ribbon, or chain, which when set for any fractions of measurement exposes or raises a fractions-key at the proper point on the scale and which key in the act of measuring may be reset. The fractions-bar when used may also carry a fractions-recorder in the shape of a type-bar, which when the fractions-bar is set to expose a fractions-key has brought into recording or printing line a type corresponding to the fraction of a yard to be measured, so that a record may be taken from such type, and the fractionsbar may also carry or bring an indicator into position to indicate the setting of the fractions-bar. With the yards-key or thumb-piece there is combined a yards bar, ribbon, or chain, which when set to determine the number of yards to be measured may be arranged to bring a yards-recorder in the form of a type bar, ribbon, or chain,with its proper type, into recording or printing line corresponding to the number of yards to be measured, so that a record may be taken from such type, and the yards bar, ribbon, or chain may also carry or bring anindicator into position to indicate its setting.

The fractions -bar and the yards-bar are each provided with a handle by which each bar may be independently moved to be set in proper position, and with either orboth bars is combined the zero point or key, which is movable into and out of operative position, so that when one or either of said bars is moved to be set to determine a measuring operation the zero-key may be moved or released so as to automatically move into exposed or operative position, and upon the return of said bars, or either of them, to their normal positions the zero-key is allowed to return to its normal or idle position, and only at such time.'

The fractions-bar is automatically returned to its idle or zero position by a motor, which may be in the form of a spring that is placed under tension in or by the act of setting the bar to expose the fractions-key, and the bar is released by the exposed key in the act of making the fractional measurement, so as to return to its idle position, the exposed key being also returned to its idle position in the act of releasing the fractions-bar or in the act of taking the measurement.

The yards-key or thumb-piece is preferably in the form of a disappearing lever which is moved to its exposed position at the time a yard or yards is or are to be measured and disappearing at the completion of the predetermined measurement. lVhile this key may be moved into its exposed position in a variety of ways, it is preferably effected automat ically by an action of the counting or tallying device, such as the fractionsbar, which in this case is a movement slightly beyond the idle or zero position of said bar to thereby move a cam or straighten a toggle that lifts the end of the key or thumb-piece into its exposed position, and when the fractionsbar, as soon as the yards measurement is completed, automatically again rests at its zero position the cam is retired or the toggle is bent and the key moved from its exposed position, so that the means of making an additional or false measurement on the instrument is removed from the operator. The yards-key or thumb-piece when exposed lies a little short of the true yard measurement and is moved by the operator in the act of measuring a yard to the yard limit and then automatically returns to its short position under the tension of a spring or by the action of the yards-bar. Each time the yards-key is thus moved it positively, partially or wholly, resets the yards-bar toward or to its normal position, together with its recorder type-bar and its indicator, whereupon the yards-key disappears or is locked against further movement, or both.

The fractions and yards recording typebars are arranged side by side and move over a platen on which may resta sales-slip, ticket, strip, or book which may be impressed with the type that is or are in line to print or emboss by moving the platen with the sales-slip against said types, their impress appearing in proper alinement to be read.

With this general understanding of the nature of the improvements a detailed description of one of many forms thereof, with certain modifications, will now be given, reference being had to the accompanying d rawings.

In said drawings, Figure 1. is a perspective View of the exterior of the measuring instrument. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the lefthand end of the measuring instrument, and Fig. 3 is a similar view of the right-hand end of said instrument. Figs. 1 and 4. together show a vertical sectional elevation of the measuring instrument, the parts being in the position they occupy after being set to measure, say, live yards and iive-eighths. Figs-5 and 5 show, respectively, a plan and bottom view of the fractions-bar removed from the instrument, a portion of the bar in each view being broken away on account of its length. Figs. and 6 show, respectively, a plan and bottom view of the yards-bar removed from the instrument. Fig. 7 is a detached perspective of a portion of the fractions-bar and one of the fractions-keys. Figs. 8, 8, and 8" (enlarged over Figs. and together show the major portion of the interior of the instrument in side elevation, the front face of the inclosing case being removed and the parts shown in their normal zero position. Fig. i) is a horizontal section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8, showing particularly the motor-d rum and zero-key. Fig. 10 is a similar section on the line 10 of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a vertical section on the line 1 l of Fig. 8. Figs. 12, l2, l2", and 12 together show a similar view to Figs. 8, 8*, and S the parts being in the position of Figs. L and 4, the otherwise visible end oi. a spring 2' being omitted in Fig. 12. Fig. 13 is a vertical cross-section on the line 13 of Fig. 12" looking toward the right of the instrument. Fig. 1.4- is a like view on the line 14- of Fig. 8. Fig. 15 is a like viewon the line 15 of Fig. 8 looking toward the left of the instrument, and Fig. 1G is a detail of the parts of Fig. 15 in a changed position. Fig. 17 is a detail elevation of a portion of the parts shown in Fig. 8, the fractions-bar having been moved to the right. Figs. flSand 19 are enlarged horizontal sections on the lines 18 1.9 of Fig. 17, showing the yards-bar in its moved and normal positions. Fig. .30 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 20 of Fig. 14-, showing the rear of the yards-bar and its actuating toothed wheel. Fig. 21 is a similar section on the line 21 of Fig. li-, looking at the front of the yards-bar; and Fig. 22 is an enlarged bottom view of the actuatingwheel, ratchet, and yoke and their bearing. Fig. 23 is an enlarged section of the fractions bar, showing particularly the actuating-pawl. Fig. 24 is a bottom view of the impressionplaten, ink-ribbon, and the supporting frame or plate removed from the instrument. Fig. 25 is a cross-section on theline 25 of Fig. 21-; and Fig. 26 is a detached elevation of the platen operatinglever, looking from the inner side. Figs. 27 and 27 are togethera scetional elevation of a modified form of some of the parts of the instrument, some portions being foreshortened for the want of room, the parts being at their normal positions. Fig. 28 is a vertical cross-section on the line 28 of Fig. 27. Fig. 29 is a like view on the line 29 of said figure, looking in the opposite direction. Fig. 30 is a like view on the line 30, and Fig. 31 a like view on the line 31, of Fig. 27. Figs. 32, 32", 32", and 32 are together a complete horizontal section of the instrument, looking from the bottom of the instrument, being substantially the same modification as shown in Figs. 27 to 31, inclusive, with the exception of a change in location of the bell-hammer and bell. Figs. 33 and Sat are elevations of the thumb-piece at the righth-and of the instrument in different positions. Fig. 35 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the devices at the lefthand end of the instrument, showing a change in location of the bell-hammer and corresponding to that shown in Fig. 32. Fig. 36 is a detail elevation of the fractions and yards bars stop. Figs. 37 and 37 are sectional elevations of two distant portions of the instrument, showing the action of the secondary zero-stop and the effect of the movement of the fractions-bar upon the yards-key or thumb-piece at the right of the instrument. Figs. 38, 38, and 38 are sectional elevations of the actuating-pawl and its coacting rack of the yards-bar with the pawl in different positions. Fig. 89 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the exterior of the instrument, partially in section, showing the printer-case and its impression-platen and ink-ribbon devices swung outward from the inclosing case for access. Fig. 40 is a vertical cross-section on the line 40 of Fig. 39 with the impression-platen in its normal position. Fig. 41 is a longitudinalsection on the line $1 of Fig. 39, showing the means for operating the platen. Fig. 42 is an elevation looking from the inside of the spring-latch for locking the printer-case in place in the instrument.

The mechanism of the instrument is con tained in and supported by a long rectangular inclosing case A-in this particular instance about or a little over a yard, by measurement, in length, and bearing on its upper surface a series of fraction-marks representing fractions of a yard measurement, at one end having a zero point or key a and at the opposite end an opening 0, adjacent to which the word yard appears. This upper surface also has an opening d closed or not by aglass-plate, through which the fractions and yards indicators may be exposed. On the front side of the case there are provided two openings 1) 0, through which project the setting-handles of the fractions and yard bars, hereinafter described, and a third opening f, through which the sales-slip, ticket, or book may be entered for receiving the impress from the recording-types. Each extreme end of the inclosing case may have a handle 9 for carrying the instrumentfrom place to place. The instrument may, however, be set permanently in or on the counter or be carried by a bracket and be adapted for adjustment to different heights.

The interior of the inclosing case supports what, for convenienec,may be termed a fractions-bar B, Figs. 4, t, 5, and 5, and a yards-bar C, Figs. 6 and 6they need not be bars in a specific sense-which lie parallel side by side just beneath the upper coveringplate of the case A and are arranged to be moved longitudinally of the case independent of one another to any position within the capacity of the instrument to measure. The fractions-bar B consists, for the sake of lightness, of a long cylindrical tube fitted at one end to slide longitudinally over or on a bearing formed by a supporting guide-rod B, Fig. a, rigid with the case A, and is further supported from its under side at points intermediate of its length by brackets B B projecting from the rear vertical wall of said case. The fractions-bar B has a setting-handle B", that extends outward through the opening I), Fig. 1, in the case A, in position to be grasped by the operator to move the fractions-bar longitudinally. The fractions-bar also has a number of lingers Z), Figs. 4, t, 5, and 5, lying unexposed within the case A, that cooperate with a number of movable fractions keys or buttons 11 Fig. 1, which rest in ways cut in the upper horizontal wail of said case, with their upper surfaces normally unexposed or lying flush with the upper surface of the case and along its longitudinal edge. The fractionskeys b are arranged at predetermined distances apart according to the particular fractions of the unit of measurement it is desired the instrument shall be capable of measnring in the present case sixteenths of a yard-so that there are shown fifteen of such fractions keys, each of which is arranged to be moved independent of the others from its normal or unexposed position to a raised or exposed position. Each fractionskey I) is formed of sheet metal or other similar material, having a pin b Figs. 7 and 13, at one side to enter a vertical guide-slot in the side of the way in which the key works. The fingers l) of the fractions-bar l3 and the lower ends of the keys K) are so disposed with respect to one another that the fractions-bar, with its fingers Z), may freely move below said keys b without being met thereby; but when the fractions-bar is rocked, as will presently appear, one of its fingers 1), according to the position to which the fractions-bar has been moved or set, will press against its proper fractions-key and elevate the same to project above the upper surface of the case A, and the fractions-bar, with the elevated key, will remain in such rocked and elevated position by the friction of the shank of the setting-handle impinging against the wall of one or the other of the serrations in an index-plate bflFig. 1., mounted along the upper side of the opening Z), (see Fig. 1,) which serrations correspond in number and in multiple relation to ,the several fractions-keys in the instrument.

In order to adapt the fractions-bar l3 and its fingers Z) to move the proper fractionskeys b said bar is in the nature of a selector, determining by its position or its extent of longitudinal movement the particular fractions-key to be moved, and for this purpose its fingers I) act as selecting-abutinents, so disposed along the fractions-bar that when the latter is in any one of its moved positions a finger will have been brought into position to move a particular fractions-key, the other fingers I) being idle or operating idly so far as moving a key is concerned, so that only one key can be moved in any predetermined position of the fractions-bar. Thus, as shown in Fig. 5, the fractions-bar B has as many fingers b as there are fractions-keys b so that in the shortest longitudinal movement of the fractions-bar the first finger (starting from the left hand of the figure) will occupy a position immediately below the first fractions-key 11 while all the remaining fingers I) are out of alinement with all the other fractions-keys, and hence when the fractionsbar 13 is rocked upwardly, which may be done through the setting-handle 13' just before it is released by the operator after having lon gitudinally moved the bar thereby, said first fractions-key will be the only one moved, 11 otwithstanding the bar and its fingers are rocked bodily. In like manner it the fractions-bar B be moved longitudinally a distance to bring the tenth finger I) beneath the tenth fractionskey Z2 all the other fingers will operate idly when the bar is rocked to move said tenth key to its exposed position, as in Figs. 4 and 4- and Figs. 12 to 12.

The Zero position of the fractions-bar B, from and to which position the bar is moved in the measurement of fractions of a yard, is determined by a yard and fractions bar stop a, (see Figs. t, 8, 12, and 15 to 19,) arranged to meet a projection of the fractions-bar, so that its movement to the left when returned from any of its set positions is determined. This step 12., however, is arranged at a predetermined time to move out of the way, so that the fractions-bar B may move still farther to the left of its zero position, as will appear hereinafter in describing the means for returning the yards-bar C.

The fractions-bar B (see Fig. 5) carries an indicator in the form of a horizontal plate b secured to the bar, so as to move therewith in its longitudinal movements, by means of collars U, loose on the said bar, which allow the bar to rock without affecting the horizontal position of the indicator-plate. This indicator-plate b is arranged immediately below the top horizontal wall of the inclosing case A and is provided along its top surface with indications representing fraction characters corresponding to the fractions indicated on the surface of the case A, which characters are in line with a portion of the opening (Z in the top of said case, to be exposed therethrough as the fractions bar B is moved longitudinally, and thus the position of the fractions-bar may be read whether a fractions-key be exposed or not. The fractionsbar B also carries a recorder in the form of a typefaced bar B (see Fig. 5%) that is secured to the under side of said fractions-bar through the collars b, and thus, like the indicator plate 0 may move bodily with the fractions-bar without partaking of its rocking movement in the act of elevating a fractions-key. The type cliaracters are on the under side of the type-bar b and correspond with the fractions the fractions-bar ll is designed to measure, and said characters are so arranged that when the fractions-bar is moved to any one of its setting positions ready to expose a fractions-key 11 a type corresponding to such key has been moved over a platen f, (see Figs. t and 12%) located in this case on the lower side of the opening f in the inclosing case A, the type characters occupying a position above such opening f, so that a sales slip, ticket, or book may be entered through said opening f between the type character that is then in place and the platen f, so that when the platen is moved the sales-slip will be impressed by said type character.

The fractions-bar l3 normally occupies a position toward the left-hand end of the inclosing case A, with the end of its type-bar Z1 abutting against the stop 'lL, as in Fig. 8, which is its normal or zero position, its indicator-plate If exposing a blank or O through the opening (Z and its type-bar Z2 exposing either no character opposite the platen f or a simple vertical dash representing zero, so that when the fractions-bar is moved to either one of its setting positions it is drawn by its setting-handle B a more or less distance away from its stop it toward the right-hand end of the machine. In any position the fractionsbar B may occupy from its zero position it is designed to be returned automaticallyin the act of measuring a fraction of a yard by depressing the exposed fractions-key 12 which rocks the fractions-bar bodily to free the shank of its setting-handle B from one of the serrations in the index-plate Z) into the unobstructed horizontal slot formed by the opening Z) in the inclosing case A, in which position of the fractions-bar and its settinghandle, being no longer restrained, said bar returns automatically to its zero position against the stop 11 toward the left hand of the case A. To effect this automatic return of the fractions-barll, it is connected to a motor E, Figs. t and 8, in the form of a coiled spring 0, (see Figs. 0 and 10,) which is 0011- nected to the fractions-bar to be placed more or less under tension as the said fractionsbar is moved toward the right of the inclosing case A, so that said spring will be in condition to quickly return the fractions-bar to its zero position as soon as released by the depression of the exposed fractions-key I) no matter which of the keys that may be. The motor-spring e is contained within a hollow winding-drum e, mounted within the inclosing case A, at the extreme lefthand end, said drum being connected by a cord 0 with the left-hand end of the fractions-bar. As the Of course any other form of motor may be employed to return the fractions-bar B to its zero position, the springwinding-drum form being especially compact and efficient for the purpose.

The zero point or key cat the left of the inclosing case A is preferably a movable one arranged to be automatically exposed whenever either one of the bars B C is moved to its setting position. For this purpose the zero-key a is mounted in a slotted way in the inclosing case A on a pivot a, to rock from its depressed or unexposed position--say with its upper edge flush with the top surface of the inclosing case, as in Fig. 1l-to an elevated or exposed position, as indicated by dotted lines in said figure. The pivot a of the zero-key carries a spring a (see Fig. 9,) which constantly tends to hold said key in its elevated position, and there is provided a springpressed locking-detent a one end of which engages with a notch a to hold the zero-key in its depressed position, the other end of said detent borne upon by the spring a and having a cam a, that is engaged by a projection a on the end of the fractions-bar B. The cam at the end of the detent a is arranged so that a movement of the fractionsbar B in' either direction will rock the detent to free the zero-key a. In one direction said detent is rocked as the fractionsbar is moved from the zero position to the right to be set in one of its positions and in the other direction it is rocked as said fractions-bar is moved slightly to the left from the zero position, this latter movement to be hereinafter explained.

The yards-bar C,like the f ractionsbar, normally occupies a position toward the left of the inclosing case A and is arranged to be moved longitudinally to any one of its setting positions toward the right of said inclosing case through the medium of a settinghandle 0 attached thereto and projecting through the longitudinal opening 0 in the front of the inclosing case. The yards-bar C is normally supported upon a longitudinal guide 0, (see Figs. 13 to 16,) projecting inward from the vertical rear wall of the inclosing case A, and, like the fractions-bar B, carries on its upper side an indicator in the form of an indicator-plate 0 (see Fig. 6,)

bearing on its upper surface yard indications to be exposed through the opening d in the inclosing case and on its lower side with atypefaced bar 0 (see Fig. 6%) bearing on its under side type-numerals representing the yards the instrument is capacitated to measure, which types are presented in position above the platen f to be impressed upon the sales slip, ticket, or book presented through the openingf. The indicator-plate c lies alongside of the other indicator-plate 11 so that both the yards and fractions indications are presented side by side and exposed through the common opening (I and the type-bar c lies alongside of and on the same plane with the other type-bar b so that both the yards and fractions recorders are presented side by side above the common platen f.

In the zero position of the yards-bar O toward the left hand of the instrument and defined by the abutment of the shank of its setting-handle 0 meeting the end wall of its longitudinal opening 0' in the inclosing case A the indicator-plate c exposes a zero-mark through the opening ct and the type-bar c a similar type or blank space over the platen f, and as the yards-bar is moved longitudinally to the right of the instrument the several indications and type characters will move successively, one beneath the opening (I and the other above the platen f, until said yardsbar is moved a sufficient distance to bring the desired indication of the number of yards to be measured to view through said opening (Z and likewise a like type character above the platen.

The movement of the yards-bar G from its normal or Zero position is made the means of temporarily removing the stopn of the fractions-bar B from the operative position, so that should said fractions-bar not have been moved it will thereupon move under the tension of its motor-spring c slightly farther to the left of the instrument,and likewise should the fractions-bar have been moved to one of its set positions it will return when released to such extreme left position unobstructed by its stop it for a purpose that will hereinafter appear. The stop it (see Figs. 15 to 19) is formed by the upper right-angular bent end of the bell-hammer bell-crank n, that is pivoted to a horizontal arm 77. and carrying at one end the bellhammer n for striking the bell n and at the opposite end engaged by a spring n holding the bell-hammer off the bell. The rock-arm n is pressed upwardly by the springn, which tends to keep the zerostop it in the path of the fractions-bar B to limit its movement and also tends to hold a finger n projecting from the rock arm, against or toward the side of the yards-bar C. The yards-bar carries an inclined projection n, which in the zero position of said yardsbar, Figs. 17 and 19, occupies a position just to the left of the finger n of the rock-arm of, allowing the end of said finger to lie close to the side of the yards-bar, Fig. 15, with the rock-arm n in its highest position, and the stop it for the fractions-bar Bin operative position to limit the return of the fractions-bar to its normal zero position. In this position of the projection '11" it bears upon and rocks rearwardly a spring-pressed finger a that is pivoted to the inclosing case A and extends upward alongside of the yards-bar. This finger n has a forward extension, the outwardsurface of which lies in the same vertical plane as the projection n, so that when the yardsbar O is moved to the right in the act of being set its projectioi'i it passes the end of the rock-arm finger 12?, rocks it to one side sntlicient to allow the extension of the lingern IIO immediately following the projection n" und er the pressure of its spring to become interposed between said finger n and the yardsbar, Fig. 18, and in this way the zero-stop n has been rocked out of the path of the return movement of the fractions-barB Fig. 16, and is held out of such path until the yards-bar, with its projection 72", is returned to the left sufticient to rock the finger a from the rear of the rock-arm finger 01 so that after the projection it passes beyond the said finger n the rock-arm n will rock back to its normal position, returning the zero-stop it again in the path of return movement of the fractionsbar, from which it will appear that so long as the yards-bar O remains in its normal zero position the stop it for the fractions-bar 13 remains in its operative position and that as soon as the yardsbar O is moved from its zero position and until itis returned to such, position the stop a is moved from operative position. A much simpler form of stop a will be hereinafter described, and hence, so far as this part of the invention is concerned, the details of construction maybe varied considerably.

The yards-bar (1, unlike the fractious-bar B, is preferably returned from either one of its set positions by a step-by-step movement imparted thereto by an actuating device, the hand-operative portion of which is arranged to extend through the opening at the righthand end of the inclosing case A. Each backward step of the yards-bar imparted by the actuating device in this eml'iodiment represents a yard in measurement, so that the yards-bar were he moved as many steps back ward to its zero or normal position as its set position represents yards. Thus if the said yards-bar were set to measure seven yards the actuating device would be operated seven times, imparting seven distinct backward step movements to the yards-bar to return it to its normal position. 111 employing a fractions-bar B, whose measuring functions are independent of the yards-bar, it is preferred in practice to measure the fractions of the yards first, so that the fractions-bar is re turned to zero before the yards are measured, and in such case it is also preferred to make the return of the fractions-bar to Zero the means of rendering the actuating device for the yards-bar operative; and, on the other hand, if there be no fractions to be measured the yardsbar, being moved to one of its set positions, will also render the said actuating device operative through the medium of the flZtCillOllS-bftl,\Vl1i0ll is allowed to move to the left of its normal position, as will hereinafter appear.

The yards-bar-actuating device consists briefly of a rack (Z, a reciprocating pawl d", and an operating yards-key or thumb piece or lever (1 with such suitable connections as may be needed in transmitting the move ments of the hand-operated thumb-piece to the yards-bar Oto return the latter to its zero position. Normally and in the preferred construction the operating thumb-piece (1 which is arranged to project through the inclosingcase openin 0, lies with its upper end about flush with the upper surface of the inclosing case, so that the operator is unable to move it, but which at the proper time is extended upward a suitable distance in position to be moved by the operator. For this purpose the thumbpiece d is sleeved to slide upon a rod i, (see Fig. 8",) that is mounted to rock with the thumb-piece on a horizontal stud i, projecting from the rear vertical'wall of the inelosing-ease A. A coiled spring 2' if desired, may tend to keep said rod and thumb-piece inclined toward the left of the instrument. The sleeved portion of the thumb-piece (Z normally occupies its low or unextended po sition on the rod t and is guided when projected or extended outward by a pin on the rod entering a slot in the sleeve. The means for automatically projecting the thumb-piece (Z into operative position are brought into action by the fractions bar 13 in moving slightly to the left beyond its zero position upon the removal of its stop 01, and consists of an inclined shoulder (1, Figs. 8" and Z 2, which when moved to the left and engaging a pin (1 on the side of the thumb-piece d? slides said thumb-piece on its rod i and projects it above the surface of its opening 0. The inclined shoulderd in this embodiment is carried by a sleeve (1, that is mounted to slide freely on the fixed guide-rod l3',thc sleeve (1 being connected to the right-hand end of a longitudinal rod (W, the opposite end of which rod (1 carries a collar (1 arranged to en gage a projection (Z on the fractions-bar 15, a spring (Z connected to the rod (Z normally holding said rod and the inclined shoulder (Z to the right, with the inclined shoulder out of operative position, allowing the thumb piece (1 to rest at its low inoperative position on the rod t'. The longitudinal rod (Z is supported other than the support afforded to the sleeve (1" by the fixed guide-rod 13 by a pair of brackets d projecting from the rear vertical wall of the inclosing case A, sufficient room being afforded between the collard" on said longitudinal rod and one of the brackets to allow the longitudinal rod to reciprocate to the left and back again to its normal posi-- tion under the tension of said spring (1 Sufficient room is also afforded between said collar (1 and the other bracket (1 for the projection (Z to move with the fractions-rod B to the limit of the stroke of the fractionsrod from the zero position without obstrnc tion and without meeting the collar (1 to slide the longitudinal rod (1. When the fractionsba-r B is allowed to move backward beyond its zero-stop a under the tension of its motorspring 0, as before explained, its projection d engages the collar (1, and thus the longitudinal rod (Z and the inclined shoulder d are moved to the left with the fractions-bar, and this movement: is sullicient to have caused the inclined shoulder (Z to have raised the thumb-piece (Z into operative position, as in Fig. 12. In addition to moving the thuml piece (1 into operative position the longitudinal rod (1 with its collar d and inclined shoulder (Z forms the means of connecting the operating thumb piece d with the frac tionsbar for reciprocating it to impart movements to the pawl d for returning the yardsbar C to zero. The pawl (Z in this instance operates a revoluble wheel d, (see Fig. 20,) that in turn engages with the rack d, that is formed on the rear side of the yardsbar O, the rack having as many teeth as the instrument is designed to measure yards. The pawl d is reciprocated back and forth by the finger-piece (t and each reciprocation moves the wheel (1 a distance sul'ticient to impart a single backward step movement to the yardsbar C.

The revolublc wheel (Z, is a three-toothed wheel mounted to rotate in a tixed bearing (1 on the vertical rear wall of the inclosing case A immediately below the yards bar. (See Figs. 4t, 8*, it, 21, and 22. The pin 11*, to which the wheel (1 is fixed, carries at its outer end a three-toothed ratehetwvheol d and a cam 11", a flat spring (1 bearing against the polygonal hub of the wheel (1', holding said wheel and the ratchet-wheel and cam in their moved positions. The cam rotates within and rocks a yoke d, that is pivoted at one end to the bearing (Z and carries a lockingtooth (Z engaging a toothed rack (i formed on the outer lower side of the yards-bar U and having the same number of teeth as the rack (I, the teeth of the two racks being inclined in opposite directions and alternating one with the other. \Vith the ratchet-wheel d and the immediate means for rotating the rz'ttehet-wheel, cam (Z and wheel d is the pawl (7,, (see Fig. 23,) which in this instance is carried by the fractions-bar l3 alongside of its setting-handle B, the pawl (1 being movable bodily with the fractions-bar, but hung loosely thereon to yield outwardly against the pressure of a springd as theinclined end of the pawl passes idly in one direction to the left over the inclined surface of a tooth of the ratchet-wheel (1, so that in the forward direction to the right of the fractions-bar and the pawl (1 said pawl will engage a tooth of the ratchet-wheelcl and will rotate it and the cam (Z and the wheel d simultaneously a single step, thereby positively moving the yardsbar 0 backward one step to the left. By mounting the pawl (t on the fractions-bar B said bar forms one of the intermediate eonneetions between said pawl and the finger piece or lever d for moving the yards-bar C backward to zero, the remaining connection immediate to thethnmb-lever d being formed by the longitudinal rod (1 and its connections before described.

From the foregoing it will be understood that upon the forward vibration of the operating thumlypiece (7/ toward the right the pin d, bearing rigidly against the high part of the inclined shoulder (1 reciprocates said shoulder, the longitudinal rod (1 the fractions-bar ll, and the pawl d bodily also toward the right against the tension of the motor-spring c, the reciprocation being limited by the length of the opening 0, which limits the vibration of said thumb-piece (Z having rotated the ratchet-wheel (Zand wheel d one step and sufficient to have moved the yardsbar 0 bacluvard one step, the return idle vibrations of the thumb-piece (Z and the return idle reciproeations of the fractions-bar, the pawl d, and intermediate connections being effected by the motor-spring c, bringing the pawl (7 again to the left of the ratchetwheel (1 in position to again cause a backward step movement of the yards-bar when the thu m b-piece is again vibrated to the right. These operations of the thumb-piece d and the pawl ll" will continue until the yards-bar has been returned to its zero position, whereupon the stop a will have been restored to its operative position ready to stop the fractionsbar on its idle return reciprocation under the force of its motor-spring c at its proper zero position. In doing so the pawl d is stopped short of passing idly over the ratehet\vheel d, as in Fig. 8, and the projection d fails to move the longitudinal rod (1 sufticiently to the left to keep the inclined shoulder (1 to duty against the pin (1, in consequence of which the shoulder remains at rest-in its righthand position, and the thumb-piece (P, not being supported by the shoulder (Z falls by gravity to its inoperative position on its rod t' simultaneous with the idle vibrations of the thumb-piece toits normal left position in the opening 0. As the stop a is moved to its operative position on the forward stroke of the fractions-bar ll, it results that in the return of the fractions-bar it will strike such stop with sufficient force to vibrate the bell-hammer it" to strike the bell 41, and thus in addition to the disappearance of the thumb-piece d indicate audibly the completion of the measurement. If fractions alone are measured, the stop 2t not having been moved from operative position, the sudden return of the fractions-bar .3 will likewise cause the bellhammer to strike the bell. If fractions and yards are to be measured, the sudden return of the fractions-bar 13 upon measuring the fractions will not cause the striking of the bell, as the stop ft is not then in position to.

f is provided with a short projection arranged to be met by the operating-leverf the linger-piece of which extends to the outside of the carrier-frame f and the inclosing case A, so to be depressed by the operator IIO 

